5/28/2026, 7:47 PM
![[Image: de30rbh-3b0683a6-441b-43e3-821f-97de2c91...kDaKDynxTk]](https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/9de0281f-9de0-407a-a8c3-cff68eced06b/de30rbh-3b0683a6-441b-43e3-821f-97de2c917037.gif?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiIvZi85ZGUwMjgxZi05ZGUwLTQwN2EtYThjMy1jZmY2OGVjZWQwNmIvZGUzMHJiaC0zYjA2ODNhNi00NDFiLTQzZTMtODIxZi05N2RlMmM5MTcwMzcuZ2lmIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.X3AR7ztue9yyAPqjXnKt7hzjl9ocfI1zPkDaKDynxTk)
gjalla had been walking the lower teeth of the mountain since morning, patrolling through the alpine with single-minded focus, nose low now and again to test the beginning of their claim. their scent-markers were young still, thin in places where wind and weather worried them down to ghosts. the land was not yet strong enough to speak for itself, so she spoke for it, renewing their presence with diligence—shoulder to bark, claw to earth, piss to snow.
she had just lifted her head to mark a leaning pine when the howl rose across the slope. it's singer is young, female. gjalla does not wait to join them.
by the time the gilded yearling came into sight, seated with her tail beating at the ground. a harmless thing, upon first glance. gjalla’s expression settled then into something austere as she stopped only some paces from her.
hail.gjalla said at last, cool as meltwater.
you skirt close to claimed land. what business brings you to my mountain?
![[Image: 120616345_kkKgsj1NmYz33r4.gif]](https://f2.toyhou.se/file/f2-toyhou-se/images/120616345_kkKgsj1NmYz33r4.gif)
